St Helens' campaign to complete a second consecutive double came a step nearer completion with a workmanlike victory over Harlequins. Having won a sixth Challenge Cup of the summer era six days previously, Saints returned to the business of securing top spot before the play-offs and, although this was a far from vintage display, the current Super League champions never looked in danger of losing.

Whereas the likes of Paul Wellens, Leon Pryce and James Roby earned the plaudits at Wembley, this was a night for the grit of the forwards. As such, the props James Graham and Jason Cayless were outstanding, along with the mid-season Australian recruit Chris Flannery, who was cup-tied last weekend.

"I was really, really pleased," said the St Helens coach Daniel Anderson, who had seen his side lose at home to Quins in February. "It would be easy for the players to drop their guard and be slack, but they just refuse to. I thought we played big and strong tonight."

Defeat for Quins all but ends their own play-off hopes and two late sin-binnings and a shoulder injury to their captain, Rob Purdham, compounded a difficult night which had started promisingly as they trailed only 12-10 at the interval.

Saints' commitment was illustrated by the fact that they returned to training on Monday and made and two changes from their Challenge Cup-winning side, with Flannery and Stephen Tyrer replacing Mike Bennett and Francis Meli respectively. But a cup final hangover was still apparent in a lacklustre first-half performance littered with handling errors.

Saints' half-time lead was harsh on Harlequins, who displayed both steel and invention while playing with a strong wind behind them. The visitors scored twice through their pacy right-winger Rikki Sheriffe, who first kicked on a Danny Orr pass to touch down and then sprinted 80 metres after picking up a stray ball.

Saints scored either side of that double through Cayless and Graham but could not wrest control until 10 minutes into second half, when Wellens exchanged passes with Graham to plunge over.

Harlequins' task was then made considerably more difficult when the stand-off Scott Hill was sin-binned for persistent interference, and Saints capitalised when Flannery crossed for his first try for the club. When Hill returned, Tyrone Smith followed him in receiving a late yellow card and Saints completed the scoring through Lee Gilmour's try.